Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

June 6 , 19 3 1 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 47 HEARST GETS DEFI ON FAN NEWS SECTIONS Five New Teams to Appear I In 1931-32 Fox Films j Five new teams are scheduled to appear tn the Fox program for 1931-32. These will ibe in addition to the Janet Gaynor-Charles Farrell team, which will appear in three, , "Delicious,'' "Alerely Mary Ann" and "SaJomy Jane." ,' The new teams are : Warner Baxter and jElissa Landi, to be co-starred in "Cheating" and "In Her Arms," both to be directed by William Cameron ]\Ienzies and iKenneth MacKenna. Hardie Albright and Joan Bennett, to be (featured in "Surrender" and '"Lipstick." Edmund Lowe and Greta Nissen, in "Disorderly Conduct," "Transatlantic" and "Sillier City." i Frank Albertson and Maureen O'Sullivan in "The Royal Road to Romance" and I "Young America." f Allan Dinehart and Linda Watkins, both newcomers, in "The Rainbow Trail," ' "'Rogues Gallery," "Charlie Chan's Chance" 'and "Sob Sister." •I I Paramount Adds Six to Mystery Picture Parade Paramount has added to the mystery film vogue with six new titles, just acquired for production on the 1931-32 program. They i are : j "Murder b} the Clock." bv Rufus King ; "'Daughter of the Dragon," by Sax Rohmer ; "'The Glass Key," by Dashiell Hammett; "Dr. Jekyll and Mr.' Hyde," by Robert Louis Stevenson; "Uncertain Women." by Edgar Wallace; and "Twenty-Four Hours," by Louis Bromfield. Chicago Massacre of Past Theme for Universal Film Universal is to tell a part of the history of Chicago in a feature production built around the massacre of Fort Dearborn. The idea for the picture rose out of the present construction of a replica of the fort as a feature of the World's Fair of 1933. The fair commission is cooperating. Columbia Buys Two Stories For '31-32 Feature Release Columbia has acquired rights to the Ursula Parrott story, "Love Affair," and "Blonde Baby," by Wilson Collison. These are the latest on Columbia's 193132 schedule. Named Legislative Committee Cleveland M. P. Exhibitors' Association has elected a committee to watch tax legislation, composed of Fred Desberg, E. C. Flanagan, Ilenry Greenberger, J. J. Harwood and George W. Erdmann. Anna Wong Drops Play Role Anna May Wong left the Philadelphia company of the Edgar Wallace play, "On the Spot," to fulfill a Paramount engagement in "The Daughter of the Dragon." Radio Teams Three Stars Radio will star Adolphe Menjou, Erich von Stroheim and L-ily Damita in "The Sphinx Has Spoken " Victor Schertzinger will direct. WABASH AVE. CHICAGO VY ELL." said a west-side exhibitor with unconcealed satisfaction, "I got my first break of the year yesterday." "Business good?" he was asked. "Naw. It was the poorest night I've had in a year."' '"And you call that a break?" '"Sure,'' he beamed. "I was playing the picture on percentage.'' AAA Fred Martin almost missed the first vacation he has had in years. The inconsiderate actions of the amusement stocks 10 days ago took the Z'acation spirit out of him momentarily. It returned, hoii'ever, and Freddie packed up and beat it for the sunburn belt. AAA The sparrows are following Tom Gilliam around. He's been over the country territory so much of late that oats keep dropping out of his pockets even after he's been back in town a week. AAA Jack Aliller carries a coininufafioii ticket betzi'cen Chicaqo and S prinq field. A A ' A Cecil ^Nlaberry's new "Lou-Mo" theatre, opened a few weeks ago at Louisiana, Mo., was damaged to the extent of $10,000 in a recent bombing. Another Maberry house, the K. P. Opera House at Pittsfield, III, received a warning of some sort in the placing of a pineapple (vegetable variety'* with a shoestring fuse attached, at an exu, a few days later. AAA Tess Heruiy, vacationing nozv, ivill take her formal departure from the Exhibitors' Association ojfice. June 26. AAA The Pinochle Club has attracted a new membership now. Exchangemen are coming in in such numbers that an exhibitor can't get a seat anv more. (Except in his own theatre.) AAA Office reductions at Warners have banished a do::en familiar faces from both exchange and theatre departments. AAA Frank Young has been week-ending at that summer cottage of his'n again. A sure sign that summer is here. AAA Gallos Brothers' new Ray theatre (formerly the Windsor Park) is a new customer for Henri Ellman's buying group. The house reopened Decoration Day after extensive remodelling. AAA "Fidlovacka," the first Bohemian dialogue picture to play Chicago, is cleaning up for the houses properly located. The Ritz played to capacity with it at a 75-cent top, and with a bad weather handicap. At 50 cents, the Villas ran it three days, with matinees added, to standouts. The Roxy, Thalia, and others are also reported to have sold plenty of tickets on it. Joe Koppel has all the facts on it. KANE Ch icago's Papers Out for New Circulation Tribune, News and Times Increase Space Given to Personality And Studio Publicity Chicago independent newspapers are beginning to challenge the Hearst publications here for fan circulation by carrying new studio correspondence and film personality copy. Local theatres are also benefiting by the policy changes which include increased space devoted to theatre publicity and listings. Heretofore, the Hearst papers have been the acknowledged favorites of the fan circulation in Chicago. Their Hollywood correspondence and film news service, coupled with the theatre publicity of a local character, were not matched in any other Chicago daily. Recently, the Chicago Tribune made a bid for the fan circulation by inaugurating a daily column by George Shaffer, the publication's Hollywood correspondent. Increased use of movie news and publicity has also marked the paper's challenge to the Hearst publications locally. Heretofore, the Tribune has carried little movie news except in Sunday theatrical sections. The Daily Times is also in the field with contracts for movie material to be run serially. Most of the copy will be of a biographical nature. The paper's policy will also include increased use of Associated Press Hollywood news, and local theatre publicity. The Daily Neifs is also increasing theatrical publicity space, particularly in its Saturday editions. This paper also runs Jack Casey's Hollywood column, but the feature is not regarded here as fan circulation winner because of its "panning" attitude, which is not relished b} the real fans. Bill Regulating Admission Of Children Faces Defea"!" The house judiciary committee at Springfield, 111., has recommended that the bill regulating child admissions be not passed. The bill provides penalties for admitting children under 16 to a theatre exhibiting a picture wherein a crime or any act punishable under the laws of Illinois is depicted. The operators' bill which would require a projectionist for every machine appears not to have the required strength for passage, despite evidences of a powerful lobby. This bill has been reported out of committee favorably and is now awaiting a final house reading. The state censorship bill, still in committee, has been tabled momentarily. Tritle Elected Vice-President At a meeting of the board of Westinghouse Electric. J. S. Tritle was elected vicepresident and general manager in charge of manufacturing, sales and engineering operations.